Labor to force Greens' hand on $10b housing bill

The fate of tens of thousands of social and affordable houses is on the line as the government tries to secure parliamentary support for its signature investment fund. 

Laws to set up Labor's housing fund have stalled in the Senate with the Greens, who hold the balance of power, withholding support in the hopes of a larger package and a rent freeze. 

But the government will seek to prioritise the legislation this week in the hopes of pushing it through the upper house - something the Greens have warned against. 

The investment fund will leverage $10 billion and use the interest, up to $500 million a year, to roll out 30,000 new social and affordable rental homes across Australia over five years. 

Two Jacqui Lambie Network senators have signed onto the bill after receiving a guarantee that each state and territory will receive a minimum of 1200 homes. 

The coalition remains opposed to the fund, saying the amount borrowed will push up interest rates and drive inflation. 

Housing Minister Julie Collins is imploring the Greens not to waste the opportunity.

"The fund is backed by housing experts, cross bench MPs and senators, community housing providers and housing ministers from across the country," she told AAP in a statement.

"Senators can't say they support more social and affordable housing but oppose this fund. We know how urgently these homes are needed. Australians who need these homes will be watching closely."

Negotiations continue and when the legislation will be brought to a vote in the Senate is yet to be decided, but the government says it's determined to have it pass before the end of the week.

Independent senator David Pocock is pushing for more investment but says he will not withhold his support for the bill if it comes to a vote.

The Greens have warned the government it wouldn't be smart to bring it to a head while they're still open for negotiations.

Senator Nick McKim said it was extraordinary the government would prefer the bill to be voted down rather than negotiate. 

He said the Greens' track record on negotiations had been in good faith after concessions were made on climate legislation. 

"We want to see a more meaningful package. People are really, really struggling," he told ABC radio. 

"We want the government to sit down and have a genuine discussion with us about it and to date, they're just not doing that."

If the bill remains deadlocked between the two parliamentary chambers, there is potential for it to be used as a double-dissolution election trigger.